Organizer Information
Usine Utopik – Centre de Création Contemporaine is a contemporary art creation center operated by the association ADN – Usine Utopik in Tessy-Bocage, Normandy, France. Located in a former horticultural greenhouse in a rural setting, the center supports contemporary artists from research and experimentation through to public presentation and dissemination. Its program includes visual-arts residencies, exhibitions, an art library, public readings, publishing activities, and educational or mediation projects. The residency program is designed to encourage artistic research, experimentation, dialogue with the local territory, and interaction with different audiences.
Title & Description
Usine Utopik Visual Arts Residency 2027
Usine Utopik Visual Arts Residencies 2027 offers a 54-day artist residency during autumn 2027. The program invites professional artists to develop a new artistic project that responds to the territory, history, geography, and physical characteristics of Usine Utopik.
Artists are expected to develop an in-situ project that takes into account the architecture and environmental conditions of the former greenhouse. The 1,500 m² building includes workshops and a 400 m² exhibition space with substantial natural light and temperature variations. These conditions are particularly relevant for projects involving video projection, screens, photography, fragile materials, drawings, and installations.
Three artists are hosted simultaneously, creating opportunities for exchange and potentially collaborative exhibition projects. The residency concludes with a public presentation of the artists' work. Artists are also expected to engage with visitors through informal studio access, public meetings, workshops, or other mediation activities.
Categories
- Visual Art
- Contemporary Art
- Painting
- Sculpture
- Installation
- Photography
- Drawing
- Ceramics
- Performance
- Other contemporary artistic practices
Eligibility
The call is international and open to artists of all nationalities, with no age limit. Applicants must be graduated artists with a professional practice in contemporary art and creation.
Applicants must be able to provide documentation demonstrating their professional artist status. Foreign artists may provide an equivalent document proving their professional status.
Program Benefits & Awards
- €2,250 gross creation grant
- Up to €1,500 in production expenses, reimbursed upon presentation of supporting documents
- Accommodation provided by Usine Utopik, with a private bedroom and shared kitchen, dining, bathroom, and laundry facilities
- A dedicated studio/workspace
- Wi-Fi in the studio
- Water and electricity covered by the organization
- Possible technical assistance, depending on available resources
- Exhibition of the work produced during the residency
- Organization and funding of the exhibition opening, including communication and vernissage
- Public presentation and mediation opportunities
- A full-color A5 publication documenting the residency work, including a text by an art critic
The artworks produced remain the property of the artist.
Travel to and from the residency, food, and telephone expenses are not covered.
Application Fee
None
How to Apply?
Applications must be submitted by email, with only PDF files considered for review. Email: usineutopik@gmail.com
Key Dates
- Application deadline: 11 October 2026
- Selection committee: December 2026
- Possible interviews for shortlisted applicants: From December 2026
- Residency: 24 August–15 October 2027
- Residency duration: 54 days
- Required physical presence: 45 days
Artists may have up to nine days of authorized absence during the residency, with a maximum of three consecutive days, subject to compatibility with the residency schedule.
Location
Tessy-Bocage, Normandy, France
Additional Details
The residency has a strong site-specific and public-engagement component. Artists should develop their proposals specifically with the physical characteristics of Usine Utopik in mind. A preliminary visit to the venue may be advisable, particularly for technically sensitive projects.
Artists must be present during the center's opening periods, three afternoons per week, allowing visitors to see the work in progress and speak informally with the artist. They must also participate in up to three half-days of public mediation, potentially involving schools, social and medical centers, professionals, or other audiences.
Because three artists are hosted simultaneously, applicants should be prepared for a collaborative environment and the possibility that the final exhibition may involve a shared artistic project.